On 21 July we visited The Sill as part of our fieldtrip. This is The Landscape Discovery Centre of the Northumberland National Park at Once Brewed.
It is called ‘The Sill’ after the geological feature of the Whin Sill; a quartz Dolerite volcanic rock ridge outcropping cross Northumberland to the Farne Islands. The building is visually pleasing, its use of gabion baskets filled with Whinstone is similar to the Cutter at Woodhorn Museum, another spectacular modern building. The Sandstone blocks are also local from Millknock Quarry at Haltwhistle.
The living roof of the sill is a recreation of a Whin Grassland habitat. Whin grassland
The grasses used are mostly Sheeps Fescue (Festuca ovina) and Common Bent. It is beginning to make a covering through the protective matting. It had been difficult to recreate the high pH ( between 7.5 – 7.8 ) and nutrient poor substrate on a roof open to visitors. Fertilizer and pH controllers have been added to enhance growth and plants are responding.
This Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides) is in flower. This is the first time I have seen one in flower. Wild Thyme was beginning to flower as were Ladies Bedstraw and Biting Stonecrop. The plants have been grown from local seed in keeping with the rest of the building.
Haresfoot Clover (Trifolium arvense) also in flower. I am not sure of the identity of what the plant growing alongside.
Crow Garlic (Allium vineale) in flower also.
This project has created 1000 square metres of this scarce and threatened environment which will bring this unique landscape flora to delight visitors to the National Park. The view of Steel Rigg from the roof shows the landscape at its best.
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